Advice

Problem:

File shows up in a folder, but any attempt to delete, rename or move it results in : “Error Deleting File or Folder – Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk“.

If it’s a folder, no hidden files are inside it. You can read and write to it. No permissions error, and the file/folder is not set as hidden or read only in properties.

Dropping down to a DOS prompt and trying a DEL, DELTREE, or RN return the same error.

Solution:

This is caused by an invalid character in the file name. Possibly a dot or a space (Spaces are really hard to spot – they’re invisible. But try a rename and just use the arrow keys in the rename box. If there’s a space at the end, the arrow key will find it and move one character past the last letter). Normally Windows will not let you create something with an invalid character in the name, but it can happen if you’re in a system remotely and the connection gets cut off, or if there’s corruption on the Hard disk, or if the file was created by a Mac and then some how transferred over to the system.

I ran across a couple of possible solutions from the command prompt, but if your file has a space in the name, especially in the middle of the name, you won’t be able to run them.  Tried a couple of tools, “Killbox” returned a similar error – that the file dosen’t appear to exist. Finally came across “Unlocker”. This app will force a delete of the file. Start up the program and use it’s interface to browse to the file / folder in question (local or network drive, it doesn’t matter. as long as you can browse to it, the application can work with it), and from the actions list select “Delete”. File is immediately deleted. There’s also a “Rename” and a “Move” option. if your trying to preserve the file.

How to escape a pop up ad

It never ceases to amaze me how many of these keyboard shortcuts I use almost daily – and yet they still remain largely unknown to most people. Here’s a handy infographic to make all of our lives easier!

It never ceases to amaze me how many of these keyboard shortcuts I use almost daily – and yet they still remain largely unknown to most people. Here’s a handy infographic to make all of our lives easier!

Problem:

Updates keep messing up the PC.
Look, I’ve never been a big fan of Windows Updates, especially the automatic ones. They kick in at exactly the wrong time, forcing you to wait to restart or going in badly pushing you into an inescapable boot loop. And it’s even worse since Windows 8, where you can no longer just disable them. However I’ve run across a solution that sometimes works…

Solution:

Try adding the following key to the registry:

1. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
2. Type regedit, and click OK to open the Registry.
3. Browse the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
4. Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select New, and then click Key.
5. Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
6. Right-click the newly created key, select new, and click Key.
7. Name the new key AU and press Enter.
8. Inside the newly created key, right-click on the right side, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
9. Name the new key AUOptions and press Enter.
10. Double-click the newly created key and change its value to 2. It’s for “Notify for download and notify for install”. Click OK.
11. Close the Registry to complete the task.

Problem:

When trying to start Outlook, you recieve the error :

“Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window”

This error shows up because something has redirected or courrupted your user profile.

Solution:

Go to the Start menu. Hit run..then type the following;  Outlook.exe /resetnavpane
This clears and regenerates the Navigation Pane for the current profile

Problem:

A delay between switching folders in inbox, which is als present when switching back to inbox from other places such as Calander and Contacts. This can be fixed by disabling hardware accelleration.

Solution:

There may be a control for this in file/options/advanced under “Graphics” or “Display”. If not, you’ll have to edit the registry.

Step 1 – open your registry. Press the windows key and type “Regedit” then press enter or click the Regedit icon, windows 7 users you can type Regedit in your start bar.

Step 2 – Browse to: COMPUTER HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Office 15.0 Common Graphics. If you don not have a “Graphics” right click on “Common” and choose “New” then “Key” and create “Graphics” (no quotes)

Step 3 – Once on the Graphics “folder” right click it and choose new DWORD (32-bit) Value

Step 4 – Give the new DWORD a Value name: DisableHardwareAcceleration and give it a Value of 1 – Click OK to save it.